3D Laser scanner

Contents

Project goal

The projects goal is to build a 3D scanner; a machine that can scan objects and turn them into 3D objects which can then be used in 3D applications or printed on a Rep Rap.

Set up

The 3D scanner consists of a rotating table, a laser-line pointed at the object and a video camera.

The workings

The laser scans the object progressively from top to bottom (or vice versa). The scan is recorded by the camera.

When one scan from top to bottom is done, the object is rotated one step and the laser scans the object again.

When the object is fully rotated, additional scans of top and bottom of object can be made.

The video data is fed into an application which analyses the footage and creates a 3D model or point cloud of the object.

Often it is necessary to manually join the different scan faces; with a fixed rotation and some calculations, it should be possible to skip this step and have the faces auto align.

To do

Figure out overall size range of objects, quality of scans etc.
Design whole set up.
Design the different mechanical parts of the scanner.
Figure out software set up.
Assemble and test.

Thoughts

Whatever can be printed on the Rep Rap, should be printed on the Rep Rap :)

Maybe it is possible that we can use glass plates to hold an object. The idea is to scan top and bottom without the need to turn over the object manually.
This also makes it easier to stich the model automatically.